April 16, 2012

The full moon was almost two weeks ago...

I took an innocuous little picture of it, using a new 'panoramic' iPhone app I had just acquired.

I had a bit of fun speculating how this might have happened.

And everybody goes crazy!

I can't believe how exercised so many people got.

Come on, folks. This was a simple little blog item. You expect 'War and Peace' every day?

What the heck has got everybody so mad? What's the big deal?

Is it about how to park?

How could it be?

It is indisputable that unless you have a pull-through spot (not available when the spots are up against a building as in this case) backing in to a parking spot is safer than pulling in nose first.

Surely I don't have to go over all that again, do I?

Yes, most people do it wrong.

But it IS wrong.

Indisputably.

It may not always be the most convenient way to park. One of our Motoring TV cameramen said that if he's at a grocery store and knows he will be wheeling a full shopping cart back to his car which he will have to unload into his trunk, he pulls in nose-first so he won't have to squeeze the cart between two closely-parked cars and risk scratching either or both of them.

Fair enough.

But he understands it isn't as safe.

Which it isn't.

Indisputable.

A few people have also mentioned that while you're lining up to back in, sometimes some rude person will sneak up and steal your spot. Nose-in, to add insult to injury.

Maybe. In too many decades of driving than I care to admit to, it has never happened to me, but I guess it does happen.

Nevertheless, backing out is never - never can be - as safe as backing in.

Indisputable.

Was it my smart-ass cracks about yuppies?

Yes, it was a Starbucks parking lot, one I frequent because I do enjoy my venti one-percent lattes.

Was I unfair to suggest a possible scenario as to who owned these cars?

Maybe. But I do know the neighbourhood well, so "Daddy's money" wasn't much of a stretch.

I couldn't find the comment box last time ;)
It's about skill. You, Jim, having a little skill, might not have realized it, but it is easier for these unskilled drivers to back out of the parking spot into a big spot like the entire roadway than back into a regular parking space. People usually choose the easier way.

Also, what if I have a heart attack and die before I get back to my car? All that wasted effort, tsk, tsk.